Kidney & Renal Function Markers
Kidney function is critical to overall health.
For years, the primary lab we used to evaluate kidney function and the health of the kidneys was serum creatinine.
Serum Creatinine (SCr)
Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR)
GFR is the Glomerular Filtration Rate. It is a measurement of kidney function. Normal renal / kidney function occurs when the GFR is > 90 mL/min/1.73m2. Many labs don’t even report a GFR until it is less than 60.
There are 5 stages of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD):
- Stage 1 CKD – GFR > 90
- Stage 2 CKD – GFR 60-89
- Stage 3 CKD – GFR 30-59
- Stage 4 CKD – GFR 15-29
- Stage 5 CKD – GFR <15
Goal – > 89 mL/min/1.73m2
What to do to improve it –
Cystatin C
Cystatin C is an early marker of renal/kidney damage.
Goal – < 0.95 mg/L
What to do to improve it –
Symmetric Dimethyl Arginine (SDMA)
